Sharing LIGHT and HOPE for People with or at Risk for Diabetes
DIABETES IN KENTUCKY
FACT SHEET Updated August 2008
DIABETES IS COMMON IN KENTUCKY
In 2007, the Kentucky rate for diagnosed diabetes was the 9th highest in the nation, DC and the territories at 9.9% compared to a national rate of 8.1% (2007)
This means that an estimated 318,000 adults in Kentucky have diagnosed diabetes. CDC research has shown that 29% of diabetes cases are undiagnosed. Using that estimate, an additional 127,200 in Kentucky adults may have undiagnosed diabetes for a total of 445,200 (14.3% or 1 in 7) Kentucky adults with diabetes.
Kentucky Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes, by Gender and by Race, 2007
Gender
Percent
Gender
Percent
Males
10.0%
Black
15.3%
Females
9.8%
White
9.4%
*The number of respondents who indicated a race other than White or Black was too few to be analyzed separately. Hispanic ethnicity was not analyzed separately.
Kentucky Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes, by Age, 2007
Age
18-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Percent
3.2%
9.9%
20%
20.5%
Adults Diabetes Prevalence, by Area Development District, 2007
AT RISK FOR DIABETES
Based on CDC research, an estimated 611,000 (40.1%) Kentuckians aged 40-74 have pre-diabetes (elevated blood sugar levels but not high enough to be classified as diabetes) and are at very high risk for developing the disease.
30.4% of adult Kentuckians report that they did not participate in any physical activity in the past month. Kentucky has the 4th highest percentage in the nation, DC and the territories for lack of physical activity. (2006)
28% of adult Kentuckians (about 1 in every 4) are obese, based on reported height and weight. Kentucky ranks 9th in the nation, DC and the territories for highest prevalence of obesity. (2006)
DIABETES IS A SERIOUS DISEASE IN KENTUCKY
Diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in Kentucky and the 5th leading cause of death by disease. (2003)
There were 116,091 diabetes-related hospitalizations in 2006, accounting for 17.9% (1 of every 6) of all hospitalizations. During 2002:
2,827 hospitalizations due to diabetic ketoacidosis
1,186 hospitalizations for lower extremity amputations due to diabetes
2,744 hospitalizations due to cerebrovascular disease with diabetes
10,285 hospitalizations due to ischemic heart disease with diabetes
In 2005, there were 583 new cases of end-stage renal disease related to diabetes
Among persons with diabetes
23% report that diabetes affects their eyes or have retinopathy (2006)
14% reported they had a foot sore that took more thatn four weeks to heal (2006)
DIABETES IS A COSTLY DISEASE IN KENTUCKY
The cost of diabetes in Kentucky is staggering. A 2004 Publication from AHRQ calculates the direct cost (medical care) and indirect cost (lost of productivity and premature mortality) of diabetes in Kentucky totaled approximately $2.9 billion in 2002.
DIABETES IS A CONTROLLABLE DISEASE
Much of the sickness and death associated with diabetes can be eliminated through treatment approaches including normalization of blood glucose levels, routine physician visits, self-management training, a yearly dilated eye exam, routine foot exams, and A1C checks.
Reported preventive care practices among adults with diabetes in Kentucky and the nation are shown in the table below.
Reported Preventive Care Practices Among Adults
with Diabetes, Kentucky and US
Preventive Care Practice
Kentucky
US
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2005
Saw a health professional for diabetes at least 1 time in the past year
95%
94%
94%
93%
90%
91%
90%
89%
Ever taken a course or class in how to manage diabetes
47%
46%
43%
49%
46%
50%
49%
53%
Checked blood glucose at least 1 time per day
58%
64%
64%
67%
69%
67%
69%
63%
Received a dilated eye exam in the past year
71%
75%
66%
70%
71%
71%
65%
69%
Received a foot exam at least 1 time in the past year
64%
62%
64%
62%
64%
70%
65%
69%
Received a flu vaccination in last year
52%
52%
57%
55%
44%
52%
60%
50%
Ever received a pneumonia vaccine
40%
39%
48%
49%
42%
53%
53%
49%
Had A1C checked at least 2 times in the past year
55%
57%
61%
63%
61%
74%
87%
69%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2001-2007
Diabetes is a common, serious, costly, and controllable disease that affects thousands of individuals in Kentucky and poses a major public health problem.
Data Sources: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); undiagnosed diabetes estimation based on prevalence in the general population, CDC, MMWR 52(35): 833-837; pre-diabetes estimate based on national estimate, CDC, National Diabetes Fact Sheet; mortality data from Surveillance and Health Data Branch, KY Department for Public Health; Hospitalization Claims Data, Health Policy Analysis Branch, KY Department for Public Health; ESRD data from The Renal Network, Inc.; diabetes cost from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; US preventative care practices from .
For other fact sheets related to diabetes in specific age, ethnic or cultural populations or to see diabetes facts related to a specific region of the state, visit the Kentucky Diabetes Prevention and Control Program website at: .
Kentucky Diabetes Network, Inc.
P O Box 4245
Frankfort, Kentucky 40604-4245
DIABETES IN KENTUCKY